The schedule for New Year’s Eve (Thursday, December 31st) is bursting with twelve options for live jazz of many stripes. Two great opportunities for tasty meals and live jazz start early and go all night: The soulful vocals of Luxury Brown will be heard at Denovo Bistro (Downtown) starting at 5pm, and Clave Sonic brings their warm Latin fusion to Barcelona starting at 6pm. In Full Swing will provide festive classics in the beautiful setting of the Franklin Park Conservatory from 7 to 9pm. Two combinations of delicious meals and vocal jazz start at 8pm: The Dave DeWitt TRio will be joined by vocalist Liz Woolley at Hyde Park Restaurant (Upper Arlington), and crooner Brian Michael Smith will swing with the John Vermeulen Octet at La Scala (Dublin). Young jazz-funk sextet 5 Star Groove kicks off the Winter Wonderland Gala at Notes at 8pm. The nearly sold out NYE extravaganza at Brothers Drake starts with a duo of Alex Burgoyne and Tom Davis at 8pm, followed by the funky titans of fo/mo/deep at 9:30pm. An all-inclusive party at Woodlands Tavern starts at 9pm, headlined by the return of the two saxophones and drums “cave music” attack of Moon Hooch – limited tickets still available here. The Valleydale Ballroom celebrates its Grand Reopening Thursday with a Rick Brunetto Big Band Dinner Dance – Dinner starts at 7:30, and music starts at 9pm, call 614-873-3344 for reservations. Further strong dining options are at Sidebar (Downtown), with the Richard Lopez Trio entertaining at 9pm, and at the Shadowbox Live Backstage Bistro (Brewery District), as renowned smooth jazz juggernaut Urban Jazz Coalition plays starting at 9:30 (more details here). Finally, the Dave Powers Trio returns to Lindey’s (German Village) for food and fun starting at 10pm.

If you are looking for jazz on New Year’s Day (Friday, January 1st), there is only one option that we know of – the Tom Davis Quartet at Dick’s Den. Guitarist Davis will be joined by bassist Greg Wolfram, pianist Danny Bauer and drummer Zach Compston. Davis tells me the band will play some of his originals, along with some “swingy stuff,” so start off 2016 on the right foot here!

Alongside two stalwart weekly options, the schedule on Saturday, January 2nd is highlighted by two quality combinations of dinner and jazz. Tom Davis continues his busy week with his Ohio Swingtet (which he recently described here) playing a tribute to Benny Goodman at the Refectory. Dinner starts at 6pm. Reservations are required – more info available here. Later on, at 8pm, pianist Mark Goodwin, bassist Roger Hines, and drummer Ted Royalty will be joined by vocalist Rene Goodwin for soulful tunes at Denovo Bistro.

If you’re still hungry on Sunday, January 3rd, there are three brunch options, including an installment of the Gospel Soul Brunch at Natalie’s which pairs vocalist Ms. Adrianne with smooth jazz band E-Flat at 2:30pm. The Sunday night dinner series at Barcelona kicks off 2016 with the duo of guitarist Jeff McCargish and violinist Chris Saetti, who will perform “a variety of gypsy, Latin, jazz, and classical selections” from 7pm to 9pm. Finally, the Brett Burleson Quartet will perform its high-level mix of inventive arrangements and originals at Dick’s Den, starting around 9pm.

Have a safe and happy New Year! Here’s footage of Moon Hooch holding sway at a recent TEDx conference: